Since I was born in the late forties I have watched the popularity of this topic increase over time. I have seen people write with many theories about this subject, but I was most impressed by Monroe because he was not involved with metaphysics, the occult or anything that was considered really fringe by most people. I post this information for frame of reference. It was not called an OBE until more recent times. When I saw it talked about in the 70s it was an OOBE which isn't that important but only goes to show how things change even in how they are referenced over time. If one does not believe in the idea of an astral body or soul travel I am not sure they could accomplish astral travel although there are stories of it happening to people spontaneously. This is an over done topic to me, lol. I have been reading the pros and cons of it for years.
Robert Allan Monroe (October 30, 1915–March 17, 1995) was an advertising executive from Virginia who became known for his research into altered consciousness. His 1971 book Journeys Out of the Body is credited with popularizing the term "out-of-body experience". In 1978 Monroe founded The Monroe Institute, which carries on his work after his death.
Astral projection (or astral travel) is an esoteric interpretation of any form of out-of-body experience (OOBE) that assumes the existence of an "astral body" separate from the physical body and capable of travelling outside it. Astral projection or travel denotes the astral body leaving the physical body to travel in the astral plane. According to his own account, while experimenting with sleep-learning in 1958 Monroe experienced an unusual phenomenon, which he described as sensations of paralysis and vibration accompanied by a bright light that appeared to be shining on him from a shallow angle. Monroe goes on to say that this occurred another nine times over the next six weeks, culminating in his first out-of-body experience. Monroe recorded his account in his 1971 book Journeys Out Of The Body and went on to become a prominent researcher in the field of human consciousness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Monroe
The idea of astral travel is rooted in common worldwide religious accounts of the afterlife in which the consciousness' or soul's journey or "ascent" is described in such terms as "an...out-of body experience, wherein the spiritual traveller leaves the physical body and travels in his/her subtle body (or dreambody or astral body) into ‘higher’ realms." It is therefore associated with near death experiences and is also frequently reported as spontaneously experienced in association with sleep and dreams, illness, surgical operations, drug experiences, sleep paralysis and forms of meditation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astral_projection
I feel for the average person, taking classes or at least reading about meditation and developing good skills in this area is a must for most. You need to learn to focus but some say they can do this like breathing, lol. I am a skeptic in this area. I am not saying it is not done but I am saying I don't always believe every Tom, Dick or Harry that blithely talks about this like it is a given anyone should be able to do this if they are this or that. I would say read Monroe's experiences if you can still get his books. The foundation does have a website.
